Paris, France – The year 2025 has brought a series of positive developments for Parisian residents in the housing sector, with further initiatives anticipated for 2026. These measures are designed to enhance purchasing power, facilitate access to property, and provide more affordable rental options across the city.
Rent Control Limits Increases in Private Sector
The implementation of rent control in Paris continues to yield significant savings for tenants in the private housing market. An updated study from 2025, initially published in 2024, reveals that tenants save an average of 984 euros annually compared to a scenario without rent control. This mechanism has successfully limited rent increases by 5.2% between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2024. Furthermore, between July 2023 and June 2024, Parisian tenants avoided an average increase of 141 euros per month, totaling 1,694 euros over the year.
Rent control, established by Article 140 of the ELAN law, has been in effect in Paris since July 1, 2019, as an experimental measure. It currently applies to 72 communes across France, including 18 in Seine-Saint-Denis, as well as major cities like Lille, Lyon, Grenoble, Montpellier, Bordeaux, and Biarritz. The current rent control framework is set to expire on November 23, 2026, unless new legislation is introduced to make it permanent.
250 New Affordable Homes for Middle-Class Families
In 2025, the Foncière de la Ville de Paris introduced over 250 new housing units through the Bail Réel Solidaire (BRS) scheme. This innovative homeownership model allows middle-class households to purchase properties at approximately half the price of the private real estate market in Paris, with costs around 5,000 euros per square meter compared to the typical 10,000 euros per square meter. This is achieved by separating the ownership of the land from the building itself; residents purchase the building, while the land remains the property of the Foncière de la Ville de Paris. The scheme also includes provisions for resale with a pre-established capital gain, ensuring that future middle-class families can also benefit from affordable homeownership.
Affordable Home Insurance for Low-Income Tenants
Since 2023, Parisian tenants have had access to a specially negotiated home insurance policy with VYV Conseil. This insurance, available under specific income conditions, aims to boost purchasing power through advantageous rates, combat the issue of uninsured tenants (which can lead to lease termination and eviction), and provide comprehensive coverage. This initiative underscores the city’s commitment to supporting its most vulnerable residents.
Rents Frozen for Social Housing Tenants in 2026
In a significant move to support social housing residents, rents will not increase in 2026 for tenants of the three main social landlords in Paris: the Régie immobilière de la Ville de Paris, Paris Habitat, and Elogie-Siemp. This freeze will impact a total of 225,000 housing units, providing much-needed financial relief to a substantial portion of the city’s population.
More Affordable Rental Options for Middle-Class Parisians
The Foncière du logement abordable is actively expanding its portfolio by acquiring 350 new housing units annually. This initiative aims to provide middle-class Parisians with access to rental properties at prices 25% lower than those in the private rental market. This offering complements existing social housing programs, enabling, for example, the rental of a two-room apartment for approximately 900 euros per month, significantly less than the 1,200 euros or more typically found in the private sector.
To achieve this, the Foncière du logement abordable acquires entire buildings, often those with a high proportion of vacant units or requiring energy renovation. These properties are then entrusted to social landlords who manage them and offer them at affordable rental rates. These ongoing efforts highlight the City of Paris’s dedication to creating a more equitable and accessible housing market for all its residents.
Source: https://www.paris.fr/pages/5-bonnes-nouvelles-pour-le-logement-33296
